Cpap buyer still confused! (Canadian in Alberta)

I am totally confused as to where I should purchase my cpap machine.
I was given a sleep test and was told by the Dr. that yes, you need a cpap machine.
He wrote the prescription and said see you. I got absolutely no guidance on where to go or how things work.
I don't have insurance to cover the cost so that's a major consideration. There are 3 medical supply places
in town that supply cpap machines all at very similar prices and expensive compared to the exact same thing
online. (eg. $850 online compared to $1950 locally)
I don't need a cpap that adjusts through the night. My prescription reads a setting of 13.
What I don't understand is can I set the pressure or does it have to be set by someone at a local store? Is there any other reason I might need to buy locally?
I am looking at a resmed air sense 10 elite with humid air and climate line heated tubing. It would be a
fixed machine (pressure 13).
Is there something I am missing as to why I might need to buy locally as opposed to online?
The machine would have to be bought in Canada.
Thanks for any input!

Your question would be best answered by one of our Canadian posters.
If you edit the title to include "Canada", it might happen faster.
Specifying your province or city would help, too.

I'm in USA, so have no Canada-specific info.

If you have no insurance, you can buy wherever you chose and pay whatever they ask.

AFAIK, any on-line seller should be able to ship to Canada.

Because this is medical equipment, the paradigm is that the end user doesn't adjust anything. When they hang an IV, they don't give you the controls and invite you to adjust the drip. Only a medical professional is supposed to adjust your CPAP.

Everyone in this online support community rejects that paradigm. We want machines we can control if we choose.

Ask whomever you buy from to set the machine to your scrip (13) before shipping to you.

Ask for the Clinician Manual, which will tell you how to set and reset the machine. Most Owner's Manuals are written to withhold that info. If seller cannot provide a Clinician's Manual, find one on-line. But be careful: if 13 is good, that doesn't mean that 10 is "better". Don't fiddle with the pressure settings without really, really knowing what you're doing to yourself. This machine is interacting with your body while you sleep - don't screw around!

Respironics and ResMed are 2 of the most-respected names. As you select a machine, make sure you know what data the machine stores, and how you can get that data off the machine. We call the machines that don't tell you anything "bricks". They work perfectly well, but owners can't extract detailed info about a night's sleep onto a PC, and analyse the data with a program like "Sleepyhead".

Keep asking questions!

Thanks dvejr, very useful information!

Check secondwindcpap.com for machines. They can easily ship to Canada....not so with some online cpap sellers based in the US.
Plus they have some gently used low hour machines available that could save you even more money.

There's no advantage to spending a thousand more bucks to get it locally.
Anything that needs to be done to the machine you can do yourself with a bit of education.
Go here and read up on things and request manuals.
https://www.apneaboard.com/adjust-cpap- ... tup-manual

longjohn13 wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 01, 2018 9:56 am

I don't need a cpap that adjusts through the night.

This is a newbie mistake. Spend a few dollars more and get an Auto machine - you will use it for five or more years, so the purchase price spread over the years is just a very few dollars. You can set the Auto machine to a straight pressure of 13.

As you see how your CPAP therapy is going and learn more about it, you may find an Auto setting will work better for you. Autos work better for many people. That's why they are very popular.

Weird... my detailed post that I sent from my laptop didn’t show up here.


You’re in Alberta? Whereabouts?

If you have no insurance buy from:
www.monstercpap.ca
Or
Www.clinicalsleep.com —> you need to create an account to see their prices.

Both are reputable and their prices are VERY fair.

Do not buy from www.canadacpapsupply.com. Their name is deceiving (they original from USA) and you will likely get charged brokerage when it gets delivered to you. Save yourself the hassle and buy from a company that physically resides and ships within Canada.

Buy an auto machine as some have said that the cost isn’t much more. In fact right now on monstercpap.ca it is CHEAPER to buy an auto machine than a fixed pressure one. I like Resmed but Philips is pretty good too but Resmed is what I chose.

If you don’t want to go the online route then go look up sleep clinic Alberta + city you’re in and you’ll find someone you can visit but be aware that they’re usually double what online prices are.

I'm going to re-enforce what @Chicagogranny stated and encourage you to consider an Auto Machine instead of pure CPAP, despite your prescription written for a constant 13 cm of pressure.

With APAP:

• you can run it in CPAP mode
• your needs may change and APAP can help you adjust
• your apnea might be positional and APAP addresses that better
• you might have aerophagia problems and APAP might allow you to treat with less pressure
• you might find prefer some of the lower pressures APAP is capable of performing.

I was originally prescribed 13 cm of constant CPAP, my DME wanted to get me a ResMed 10 Elite. I insisted on the ResMed 10 AutoSet (for her). Switched from CPAP to APAP immediately after my first consult with my sleep Dr. after my titration period and thrilled I did.

Regarding machines, I like a lot of people on the forums really like the Resmed Airsense 10 AutoSet for Her, even though I'm a him. The for Her model is identical in functionality to the Resmed Airsense 10 AutoSet model but actually has an extra mode.

I do all my ordering from CPAP Outlet (https://www.cpapoutlet.ca/Home). Competitively priced and located in Canada. Have had only positive experiences with them.

Hi longjohn.

Alberta resident here and I will correct a few errors for you - You CAN buy a Respironics machine via the U.S.. We are now allowed to purchase cpap supplies in both countries, just not Resmed. I have purchased a lot of supplies from canadacpapsupply without any problems . I order it here in Canada online and they have it shipped to me and I get it within a week with NO customs brokerage fees.. I bought my last machine from clinicalsleep.com in B.C., their supply manager is named Elsie and she is a gem to work with. She called me several times after my purchase to make sure everything was going okay..... never have I received such great service anywhere else. . Our sponsor for this forum is cpap.com, they are in the U.S. but you can buy gear from them, just not Resmed.

Cheers and good luck........
Nan

I bought my initial machine through the doctor that did my sleep study. It is really weird that your doctor did not provide any guidance; the sleep test is covered by Alberta Health so selling equipment is where most outfits make their money! I bought my second set of mask/hose from cpapoutlet.ca as well as some accessories (hose cover, filters, etc.) and have been happy with their service and speedy delivery. As others have mentioned - do consider an automatic machine. Things change, and it may prove beneficial at some point to have the adjustability. Definitely consider a machine with a humidifier as our dry climate is a challenge!

longjohn13 wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 01, 2018 9:56 am

I don't need a cpap that adjusts through the night.

Yes, you do. Most peoples needs change from night to night, and indeed, hour to hour throughout the night.

longjohn13 wrote: ↑

Thu Nov 01, 2018 9:56 am

My prescription reads a setting of 13.

Prescriptions are very often wrong.

I am in central Alberta. In Feb 2018, my insurer paid for my main unit (Resmed Airsense 10 Autoset with heated tube and a nasal mask) at CAD$2500 ($2175 for APAP & $325 for nasal mask). This was from a local sleep clinic/DME. In May 2018, I bought a backup unit (Airsense 10 Autoset for Her) from a Canadian online Cpap dealer Cpapoutlet Canada for $805 including free ground shipping from Ontario...this included a slimline tube but no mask. I have existing masks and other supplies from previous purchases from MonsterCpap, Cpapoutlet Canada, Cpapmachines Canada and Amazon Canada. Cpapmachines has packages including a limited selection of masks for $899...+$50 for another mask of your choice.

Papsmart is another Canadian online Cpap supplier...has very cheap prices on Cpap and Apap units...as cheap as $600 or less with promo codes by other forum members posted here. I have NO experience with Papsmart. I have been happy with the other online Canadian Cpap suppliers noted above. It appears that there is an Canadian online Cpap supplier here in Alberta called Sleep Yeti....no experience with Sleep Yeti....good prices on some supplies and accessories...units were more pricey than others.

As others have said, I recommend the same For Her that I bought as backup. This model can be set as fixed pressure too....but is flexible for a range of pressures which may work better for you or if your needs change in the future.

Amazon Canada has prices between $725 & $759 for Airsense 10 Autoset and Autoset for Her with free shipping from Canadian suppliers. Warranty in Canada is 3 years...only 2 in the US. Personally, I would only buy from a Canadian supplier for warranty purposes....unless you are living very close to the US border.

Dave